Pages

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

January 30 2012 Philippine Suertres/Swertres Tips and Lotto Results

Disappointment, thy name is Japeth
By Jason Inocencio
Posted at 01/29/2013 12:37 PM | Updated as of 01/29/2013 12:38 PM

He was supposed to be the future of Philippine basketball. A 6-foot-9 center with mad hops and a feathery touch from mid-range. A second-generation basketball player who would become a stalwart for the Philippine national team for at least the next decade.

That was what Japeth Aguilar was supposed to be when he first burst onto the Philippine basketball scene in 2004. Almost 10 years and many letdowns later, we’re still waiting for Japeth to live up to his potential and physical gifts.

College in Katipunan and Kentucky

When he was recruited by Norman Black to play for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, it was seen by many as a coup for the team from Katipunan.

After winning the UAAP title in 2002, Ateneo was banking on Aguilar to be the next great Blue Eagle to bring them back to the promised land. He was a phenom who dunked with aggression on the offensive end and blocked shots with ease on defense.

But after two years playing for the Hail Mary squad with no championships to show, Aguilar suddenly decided he wanted to try to ply his wares in the US.

After trying out for several Division I NCAA schools, Aguilar landed on the bench of Western Kentucky University. The Hilltoppers are not quite on the level of the North Carolinas, Dukes, Michigan States, and UConns of college basketball. Yet Japeth couldn’t even crack the regular rotation, only earning playing time during blowouts.

Playing more at shooting guard and small forward, he began to develop a more consistent outside shot though it meant taking away from the development of his post-up game.